Welcome, to what is possibly the most diverse of Specialities, Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Today’s Diabetologist / Endocrinologist needs to be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, capable of good clinical reasoning and able to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty. They need to be able to lead when appropriate and have excellent communication skills.

The 5-year Speciality Training Programme delivers training based upon the JRCPTB General Internal Medicine (Acute) (level 2) and Endocrinology curricula. In each post, a Trainee will have a named Clinical Supervisor ensuring access to appropriate mentorship. Documentation of progress through the Training Scheme will be via JRCPTB e-portfolio. The majority of posts involve both District General Hospital and Teaching Hospital placements within the Northwest Deanery. Training commences in the district general hospitals for 1-2 years and progresses to Teaching Hospitals in subsequent years rotating on an annual basis.

There is a wide range of training opportunities in the various hospitals affording experience in both general and subspecialty aspects of diabetes and endocrinology including training in acute internal medicine.

There are a wide range of opportunities for research within the various hospitals and we have strong academic departments within the University of Manchester, Salford and Central Lancashire. Major research groups include areas of Neuro-endocrinology, Endocrine Oncology, Bone biolology, Vascular disease, Lipoprotein Research, Stem Cell Research, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Foot Ulceration and Diabetic Neuropathy.

General Description of Rotation

These placements will involve at least 1 year in the district general hospitals and provide acute medical experience with at least 8 months of unselected acute medical ‘take’. (Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Barrow, Trafford, Stepping Hill, Bury, Oldham & Lancaster). The majority of trainees will be based in one site for each year of the programme rotating in October for two years. Subsequent training paths will allow a more sub-specialist training focus for at least two years with placement in Teaching Hospitals /larger District General Hospitals (North Manchester General, Bolton, Hope Hospital, Christies Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital and Preston).

Educational Opportunities

The General (Acute) Medicine Curriculum based protected teaching programmes are in place for ST3-7 trainees building on the mature individual trust and multi-trust teaching programmes already in place. There is an active and successful NW Regional Royal College of Physicians Programme of Education including teach-ins and training days; the NW Physicians MRCP Part I Course, now in its 7th year, and also a successful NW PACES Teaching Course.

Trainees attend a dedicated teaching programme in Endocrinology consisting of 8 days per year covering all aspects of the JRCPTB curriculum and are delivered by Education Trainers. This is hosted at various hospitals throughout the NW deanery. There is a Northwest Diabetes and Endocrine evening teaching programme. Individual trusts also run regular programme of training which medical trainees are encouraged to attend.

Research/Audit/Teaching

The Manchester Medical School has recently undergone significant expansion, incorporating the use of problem based learning. Junior hospital doctors, particularly in Medicine, form an important group of the trainers at undergraduate level. The University runs a regular programme of teaching the teachers, which Speciality Medical Trainees are encouraged to attend.

All Trusts have an actively supported programme of audit; ST Trainees are expected to undertake audit and are actively supported to do so. Research is also supported, with presentation of research at national and international meetings and publication of research achieved regularly by trainees in the Regional Programme.